With Wednesday's other two quarterfinals between world No 1 Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro and three-time champion Novak Djokovic against Kei Nishikori given star billing, Federer was shunted off Wimbledon's Centre Court for the first time in three years - and 21 matches.

Defending champion Roger Federer's hopes of a ninth Wimbledon title are over after he let slip a two-set lead as he lost to No 8 seed Kevin Anderson in the quarter-finals.

Anderson broke Federer to go up 12-11 and reached his first Wimbledon semifinal by denying Federer his 44th major semifinal. The 20-time grand slam victor lost the set 6-4 as Anderson's relentless, powerful serve sent the match into a fifth and deciding set.

Next up for the American will be a battle of the big servers against Milos Raonic, who overcame Isner's countryman Mackenzie McDonald 6-3 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-2 to make the last eight for the fourth time in five years.

The Japanese 24th seed is contesting his maiden Wimbledon quarter-final after finally overcoming his own wretched run with injury and backing up his third-round win over Nick Kyrgios with a fighting four-set victory over Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis.

Eighth-seed Anderson, 32, saved a match point in the 10th game of the third set and grew in confidence against an increasingly-ragged Federer who had won the first set in 26 minutes.

In the first set of his round of 16 clash against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, Federer had an opportunity to be playful with a dead ball that was bouncing towards him.

"I think psychologically there's a huge difference for Anderson to play on Court One rather then Centre", the Swede, working as Eurosport's chief analyst, told Reuters.

By contrast, eight-time champion Federer, and Nadal, the title victor on two occasions, have played exclusively on the 15,000-seater Centre Court. You can't plan for them anyway because one point can change the outcome of a set. "Now I feel horribly tired and just terrible", Federer said.

It proved pivotal as the South African recovered to win 2-6 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-4 13-11 in four hours and 13 minutes.

Anderson will take on the victor of the quarter-final clash between former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and ninth-ranked John Isner.